Page 14 of The Garnet Daughter (The Viridian Priestess #3)

Chapter

Twelve

I forgot how dry it is here, how the grit lingers. Even on the ship, where the air is filtered and circulated, I can tell a difference. It’s thick and controlled, so unlike the fresh, wild air of Frith that feels like it’s nourishing every part of you with each inhale.

I search the metal cupboard in the pilot’s suite.

It has been my room off and on since leaving Frith.

Some of my clothes are still neatly inside and the rest are in the safe house, but I’m not ready to leave the cocoon of this ship, so these ones will have to do.

My body runs through the motions, taking care of itself all on its own, my mind too preoccupied with more worries than there are stars in the sky.

“Need anything?” August knocks on the door.

I wait until it’s open to answer. “No.” I smile flatly at him.

He is wearing fresh Viathan clothing, dark and armored. On his wrist, his new comm blinks softly in yellow, until he touches a few buttons and it blends right into the rest. “They will be here soon.”

Moments after we folded back, August reached out to 99, informing him we are here even as I was still acclimating to this world.

We agreed I would not be strong enough to fold again so soon, so August suggested we arrange a meeting here.

August pledged to take care of telling them some details, but I know how many questions they will have, and some answers will be harder than others and they deserve explanation from me.

I exhale deeply. “All of them are coming?”

“Well—”

“If 99 knows, Ferren does.” I finish the sentiment, reminded their minds are tethered. “I meant Selene.”

He nods. “Give me the word and I will lock her out.”

That makes me smile a little. “No, it will be good to get it over with, I guess. I won’t be much longer, just want to move slow.”

He pauses for a moment before answering.

“Take your time.” He waits in the doorway like he has more to say.

But I know him. He won’t bring up what we spoke about before I folded us back, his confession.

Not when the others will be here soon. It’s a conversation we will have to address at some point, and I’m not certain if that is a relief or torment.

“I’m ok, August. I will meet you down there,” I say over my shoulder, and when I finally turn to face him, he lifts his hands in submission and heads toward the mess hall.

August is resilient, he is used to crossing the space between worlds, or perhaps he is just happy to be out of the forest of Frith.

I could have held onto him for much longer when we landed in the cockpit, but he felt me sway on my feet and demanded I sit down, and as I did, he got right to work on checking his ship’s system.

I don’t think I will assimilate back as quickly as he has.

I settle on the edge of my firm bed, resting my face in my hands, my head heavy and spinning.

August knocks again, even though he left the door open.

“I promise I am fine,” I mumble through my palms.

“That is good to hear.” Ferren’s voice sends a gasp through my lungs. She stands in the doorway expectantly, her expression so broken, my heart lurches from my chest.

“Ferren.” I shoot up from my resting spot.

To my surprise, she rushes into the room, her black dress billowing out as she walks with open arms toward me. And when she crashes into me with an embrace like she is happy to see me, I realize I must be dreaming.

“We have been so worried.” She sniffles and holds me so tightly.

My arms still hang loosely next to me, stunned by my confusion. I expected grief and anger from her, not joy. I finally hug her back, still bracing for other emotions to spill forth.

“99 said you folded to Frith and back. How?” She grips my arms and looks up at me, her watery eyes searching.

“We did. I didn’t intend to . . . either time.”

“What was it like?” She wipes the remaining moisture from her face.

“Folding that distance? It’s impossible to explain, but truthfully not much different.”

“You weren’t trying to fold?” She furrows her brow.

“No, it just happened.” I shake my head slowly. “But I felt strange right before.”

She processes for a moment, shaking her head, and then smiles flatly. “I am just so glad you are back.”

“I’m sorry, Ferren, about the temple.” I almost choke on the knot in my throat.

“We knew placing that ward would be difficult. We . . . tried,” she says, defeated by the memory.

“I should not have.”

She takes my hand in hers, like she always has when we speak of serious things, needing the extra bit of affectionate support. “We all made mistakes that day.”

Something about the way she phrases it makes me more alert. Ferren is kind, but there are limits. Her friend died because of my doing and she is happy to see me? Yes, she killed the highest priestess, and it was deserved, not a mistake, but Thea was innocent.

A strange feeling descends across my nerves that perhaps she does not know I read from another prayer when the first one did not work and thinks Thea’s death was a tragic accident just as August does. Which is far from the truth and makes telling them much more difficult.

“The order has a temporary ward in place.” She sniffles and straightens her dress.

“How?” I ask, surprised.

“It won’t hold long, just until they can appoint a new highest. The eldest priestess alive can maintain one in the absence of a highest, but I imagine maintaining it will eventually kill her.”

“A temporary ward.” My voice is more somber than I intend.

“I did not know of such a rule, and the elder priestess came from another city to place it. We can’t change what happened,” Ferren adds, perhaps sensing my racing thoughts.

I nod. It should bring relief but it doesn’t. “Are you still able to get close to the order?”

“Not entirely. Selene has been keeping us updated. She has sway with them now, ever since the Temple of Divine Mother’s evidence was submitted to the council.”

“I am surprised she is speaking with the order,” I try to clarify because it makes little sense.

“Well, hardly. She is helping some of the high priestesses, honing their gifts for when we are attacked again.”

“Oh.”

“There are not many left who can fight. I keep my distance,” she clarifies.

“No, that is good.” I smile, hoping it conveys that I am not judging her speaking neutrally of the order. I imagine many order members died in the attack, a great loss for the Estate if those women were even half as powerful as the elders we fought in the Temple of Divine Mothers.

We walk through the ship together, and she asks me more questions about folding to Frith: where we stayed, and how we survived not knowing how to return.

She smiles when I mention August’s reaction to being in the forest and then gets a distant look.

Frith is a frightening world to those who don’t reside on it.

The mountain has known me since my afterbirth was buried in its soil.

I speak of its facets fondly with the knowledge that I am protected.

It is not the same for all. Ferren enjoyed parts of my home, but she also suffered there.

Her way of life was torn apart and put together differently.

We turn down the narrow passage before the mess hall, where the others wait. I can hear their voices and my stomach drops to the cold metal floor when I pick up Selene’s.

Ferren enters first, immediately taking a seat. Her expression softens now near 99, a blissful look that always indicates a conversation is going on between them we cannot hear.

August regards me with a thinly cautious smile, standing with his arms crossed against the food stations.

Then Selene steps forward, as if she is unsure. I close my eyes as we hug stiffly, avoiding the others’ gazes as they witness our reunion.

“You are here and you are alive,” Selene says, rubbing her palms up and down my arms like she is trying to warm me.

“Yes,” is all I say.

She nods slowly, her words as much a reminder for herself of what is most important as they were confirmation of how truly upset she is.

She guides me to a seat next to Ferren but then oddly positions herself to stand near 99.

“There is a council meeting this evening. We can submit a statement then,” 99 informs instead of greeting me.

“A statement?” I look to Ferren to translate his abruptness.

August’s eyes are on me still, his hasty energy ebbing throughout the mess hall, holding himself back from interjecting and wanting to put me at ease.

I wonder if it is as strange for him as it is for me, after speaking to each other freely and relying on just the two of us for so many days.

Being in a room with the others fills me with a sense of being too closely observed, and the urge to retreat to avoid assumptions is so loud it screams in my ears.

“On your absence, where you have been since the attack. It is recorded you were present when we attempted to place the ward. It’s not as formal as it sounds.” Selene puts her hands up as my eyes go wide.

“I don’t know why they need to hear that from me.” I panic, thinking of the last time I had to speak in front of a council on Viathan.

“You will only have to be in attendance and agree to the statements we submit,” 99 says, as if that will make me feel more in control.

“You aren’t required to do this, just me?” I turn toward August.

He acts surprised I’ve asked him directly and leans forward to answer me. “No, I don’t have to make a statement. I am covered under Viathan law. Your world is not here to represent you. But all of us will be with you.”

“The attack has made everyone on high alert. I promise it will be easy. It clears any doubts about where you were,” 99 adds.

“We cannot inform them she folded between worlds,” Selene interrupts.

August straightens from his casual lean, now standing as if threatened. “And why exactly is that?”

“It brings too much attention to Calliape. I won’t have it.” She raises her chin to him.